Community Update – November & December 2025
To get in touch with the BCA: Contact the secretary on secretary@burphamca.org.uk call 07513 366072 or visit the website at www.burphamca.org.uk
We represent the community of Burpham, Guildford
Gosden Hill Plans
The outline plan for Gosden Hill was published in August.
There were, as expected, major changes. The railway station has been dropped; the ‘southern exit’ into Merrow Lane has been dropped; and a huge block of 4-storey flats has appeared alongside the A3 to protect other residents from noise. It is intended as a ‘grand gateway’ to Guildford, and therefore to Burpham.
What this leaves us with is a giant cul-de-sac which empties into London Road except for a few cars south-bound on the A3. BCA has called for more access points to the estate and for an all-ways junction on the A3.
The developer still intends to send construction traffic up to Merrow Lane via Old London Road and New Inn Lane. That spells danger and disruption for residential streets. We have made a strong objection.
BCA decided to OBJECT to the overall plan because of the traffic congestion it would cause in Burpham, but we also gave early notice of our unease about plans regarding flooding and utilities. These can be summarised as wishing to see infrastructure in place from the start, not several years down the line.
You can read our submission on our website burphamca.org.uk/gosden-hill-development/
BCA Events
November
BCA XCHANGE: Jigsaws
Swap or borrow for free.
9.00am-noon | Sat 1 Nov
Sutherland Hall
Autumn Walk: Horsell Common
Horsell Common – home of the H.G.Wells’ Martian Landing, featuring beautiful flat woodland walks. Great for dogs.
Meet 10.00am | Sat 8 Nov
Horsell Common Car Park
Advice Drop-In – disabilities
Speak to our expert about advice and help for disabilities. With Cllr Amanda Creese.
10.00-10.45am | Sat 15 Nov
Sutherland Hall
Educational Toys Display
Different types of educational toys for Xmas.
10.00-11.30am | Sat 15 Nov
Sutherland Hall
Public Meeting
Developments in Burpham, including Gosden Hill & Nuthill Farm proposals. Joint presentation by BCA and BNF.
7.30 – 9.00pm | Thu 20 Nov
Village Hall in Burpham Lane
Visit To Historic Site
Jane Austen’s home in Chawton in Alton in her 250th anniversary year. 35 mins’ drive from Burpham.
10.30am | Sat 22 Nov
Meet at the house on Winchester Road, Chawton, GU34 1SD
December
BCA XCHANGE: Jigsaws
Swap or borrow for free.
9.00am-noon | Sat 6 Dec
Sutherland Hall
Decorate Our Tree and Fill Up Our Festoon
All-age kids’ craft session to create Christmas decorations for our BCA celebration next week.
10-11.30am | Sat 6 Dec
Sutherland Hall
Christmas Cultural Celebration
With music, carol singing, readings and poems PLUS fabulous finger food. Join us for our new-look Xmas Do and our magical window decorations. We will light up the hall with our theme of Community: Together We are Better as our contribution to St Luke’s advent celebrations.
7.00pm – 8.15pm | Thu 11 Dec
Village Hall in Burpham Lane
BCA Scavenger Hunt
Our Autumn Scavenger Hunt for Autumn was won by Lian and Choa.
Everyone submitted colourful collections of natural objects. Well done to them and all our young scavengers.
We will be holding free seasonal scavenger events to find natural treasures in Winter and Spring on these mornings: starting from Sutherland Hall. Collect bags between 10.00-10.30am and have them back by 11.30am.
- Winter scavengers – Saturday 17 January
- Spring scavengers – Saturday 28 March
BCA Photographic Competition
Our Photographic Competition was won by Kevin Appleby with a beautifully focused and well-lit photograph of three trees in autumn sunshine.
He receives a £50 prize. Commendations were awarded to Lauren Holden and Dylan Thomas. Thank you to everyone who contributed. The winning entry and a selection of great entries will be displayed in the Community Café at Sutherland Hall on Saturday mornings over the next fortnight.
Burpham Winter Lectures 2026
Our free Winter Lectures are back every Friday in January at the Village Hall.
2 January 2026
Guildford Through the Ages (Niels Laub)
9 January 2026
St Luke’s Church Burpham: Past, Present and Future (Jane and David Agg)
16 January 2026
Growing Panes: A short history of the glasshouse (Andrew Plumridge)
23 January 2026
The Bayeux Tapestry (Sue Hackman)
30 January 2026
Quarks to Cosmos: Scales of the Universe (Philip Harris)
Help by joining the Burpham Community Association today!
Subscriptions are £8 per household or £4 per single occupancy and run from January to December. Join now or renew your membership for 2022.
You can pay by:
Direct Debit – visit our website at www.burphamca.org.uk which has a link to this system – an email to treasurer@burphamca.org.uk giving your details would be helpful.
Online:
Account name: Burpham Community Association.
Sort Code: 40-22-26.
Account Number: 41049194
To help the Treasurer please identify yourself using initials, surname and the first line of your address.
Please contact Liz Turner, our Membership Secretary, if you have any queries. Her email address is membership@burphamca.org.uk
BCA on Facebook & Twitter!
Join the conversation! Open to members and non-members, it’s a great way to stay up-to-date with everything that’s happening in our community.
twitter.com/burpham_c_a
facebook.com/burphamCA/
Guildford Community Lottery
A way for everyone to support local causes and be in with a chance to win prizes of up to £25,000. 50% of all tickets sold from our page go to the BCA!